Highly spiced Garlicky Sesame Tofu (30 Mins!)

Welcome to some other minimum effort, BIG taste dish! This quicker-than-takeout sesame tofu is baked to crispy perfection and covered in a drool-worthy, candy + highly spiced + garlicky sauce. It would have you ever wondering whether or not you’ll ever be ordering takeout once more!

Pair with rice and steamed veggies for a easy, 30-minute meal that’s vegan, gluten-free, and of course sweetened. Let’s make it!

Recipe Inspiration

This recipe is encouraged through Sesame Hen, which is regularly present in Chinese language eating places in america and Canada (supply). Although most likely in the beginning impressed through a dish from China, its actual beginning tale is unclear. Some counsel it’s an adaptation of Normal Tso’s, whilst others say it’s impressed through Sichuan L. a. Zi Ji.

Our impressed, plant-based model has a in a similar way sticky, highly spiced, candy (however now not too candy!) glaze and is made with tofu. Our model additionally doesn’t contain any battering or deep frying!

Find out how to Make Sesame Tofu

It begins with making the tofu crispy the use of a special way! As an alternative of deep frying, we smash the tofu into bite-sized items and bake till a bit company and golden with crispy edges.

Then we make a easy, tremendous flavorful sauce at the stovetop with maple syrup, tamari, rice vinegar, sesame oil, pink pepper flakes, and garlic.

Subsequent, we cook dinner it down with a bit slurry of cornstarch + water till it’s thickened.

The overall steps are including sesame seeds to the sauce then stirring within the baked tofu till it’s well-coated and impossible to resist!

We will’t look ahead to you to check out this sesame tofu! It’s:

Highly spiced
Garlicky
A little bit candy
A little bit sticky
Crispy at the edges
& SO scrumptious!

It pairs superbly with rice (brown, white, or cauliflower “rice”), and steamed broccoli for a easy, weeknight-friendly meal. Different scrumptious pairings come with our Sesame Sautéed Swiss Chard, Gingery Smashed Cucumber Salad, and Highly spiced Garlicky Edamame.

Extra Flavorful Tofu Recipes

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Prep Time 10 mins

Prepare dinner Time 20 mins

General Time 30 mins

Servings 4

Route Entrée

Delicacies Chinese language-Impressed, Gluten-Loose, Vegan

Freezer Pleasant No

Does it stay? Very best when contemporary

Prepare dinner ModeSave you your display from going darkish

TOFU

1 (14-16 ounces / 397-453 g) bundle tremendous company high-protein tofu*
1 Tbsp olive or avocado oil
1/4 tsp sea salt

SAUCE

3 Tbsp maple syrup (or honey if now not vegan)
2 ½ Tbsp tamari or soy sauce (gluten-free as wanted)
4 tsp rice vinegar
4 tsp toasted sesame oil
1/2 tsp pink pepper flakes
2 massive cloves garlic, grated or pressed
1/4 cup sesame seeds

TO THICKEN SAUCE

1 Tbsp cornstarch*
1 Tbsp water

If serving with rice, cauliflower rice, or steamed broccoli, start making ready right now. Prepare dinner the rice at the stovetop, within the Rapid Pot, or in a rice cooker. Steam the broccoli in a steamer basket set over boiling water for ~4-6 mins, or till comfortable however nonetheless a colourful inexperienced colour. Differently, transfer directly to the next move.

TOFU: Preheat the oven to 425 levels F (218 C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Fall apart the tofu into items 1/2 to at least one inch in dimension and prepare them at the parchment-lined baking sheet. Upload oil, sprinkle with salt, and toss to lightly coat the tofu. As soon as the oven is preheated, bake for 10 mins, turn with a spatula, and bake for some other 10-15 mins or till the tofu is a bit company and golden with crispy edges.

SAUCE: To a medium saucepan, upload the maple syrup, soy sauce or tamari, rice vinegar, sesame oil, pink pepper flakes, and garlic. Convey to a simmer over medium warmth.

In the meantime, to a small bowl, upload the cornstarch and water and stir to mix. As soon as the sauce is simmering, upload the cornstarch combination, stir, and proceed simmering, stirring every now and then till the sauce turns into thick like honey — about Three mins. Take away from warmth and stir within the sesame seeds. Style and regulate as wanted, including extra maple syrup for sweetness, tamari for total taste, garlic for zing, or pink pepper flakes for warmth. Put aside.

As soon as the tofu is golden brown, position it into the sauce and stir to completely coat. Serve heat with rice, steamed greens, or different aspects for a delectable meal!

You’ll be able to prep the sauce forward of time and retailer it within the refrigerator for as much as 1 week. If it turns into too thick, upload somewhat of water while you reheat it in a saucepan. Differently, the cooked dish is best possible when contemporary.

*If you’ll be able to’t in finding tremendous company tofu, additional company or company tofu will paintings on this recipe. If the use of additional company or company tofu, wrap it in an absorbent towel and set one thing heavy on best — like a forged iron skillet — to press out additional moisture for 10-15 mins. However, use a tofu press. Then continue with step 2.
*If you wish to exchange the cornstarch with arrowroot starch, use best part the quantity. It’s going to glance a bit goopy, which isn’t as appetizing, nevertheless it nonetheless tastes excellent!
*Vitamin knowledge is a coarse estimate calculated with out not obligatory components.
*Impressed through Allrecipes’ Sesame Hen.

Serving: 1 serving Energy: 345 Carbohydrates: 16.4 g Protein: 20.7 g Fats: 22.4 g Saturated Fats: 3.8 g Polyunsaturated Fats: 2.8 g Monounsaturated Fats: 4.7 g Trans Fats: 0 g Ldl cholesterol: 0 mg Sodium: 795 mg Potassium: 249 mg Fiber: 3.7 g Sugar: 9.3 g Nutrition A: 12 IU Nutrition C: 0.5 mg Calcium: 138 mg Iron: 4.6 mg